Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano, archbishop emeritus of Córdoba, on December 13, 1969, four days before his 33rd birthday (Argentina).
On that Saturday, December 13, 1953, the day before the third Sunday of Advent, the world as we know it began. It is widely agreed that Pope Francis's pontificate has been distinguished by its emphasis on mercy, and this Sunday is celebrated as Gaudete, or Joy Sunday, in the Church's liturgy.
Francis, as told in "The Jesuit: Conversations with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio," found his calling to the priesthood on the way to a Gaudete Day celebration.
In the Flores area of Buenos Aires, he stopped by a church and was given some words of wisdom by the priest who was there to hear confessions.
On another occasion, the Holy Father shared how his mother, a fervent Catholic, first opposed his intention to become a priest. On the other hand, she gladly embraced her son's call to ministry and even requested his blessing at the conclusion of his ordination.
Bergoglio spent 1970 and 1971 in Spain, where he finished his Jesuit education. He joined the Jesuit order permanently on April 22, 1973.
After returning to Argentina, he taught at the San José School of Theology in the municipality of San Miguel (on the outskirts of Buenos Aires), was rector of the college, and was chosen provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina on July 31, 1973, at the age of 36.
His episcopal consecration took place on June 27, 1992, at the hands of the local archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, following his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires on May 20, 1992, by Pope John Paul II.
Bergoglio became the Buenos Aires Archbishop's Coadjutor on June 3, 1997. After Cardinal Quarracino's death in February 1998, he took over pastoral leadership of the archdiocese.
Then, on February 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in a consistory.
PopeFrancis was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, using the name Peter after having served as a cardinal at the April 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI.